I Thank You *** (1941, Arthur Askey, Richard Murdoch, Graham Moffatt, Moore Marriott, Lily Morris) – Classic Movie Review 11,416

Director Marcel Varnel’s 1941 British black and white comedy film I Thank You stars Arthur Askey, Richard Murdoch, Graham Moffatt and Moore Marriott in a film crammed with World War Two wartime entertainment, most of which is very amusing, though some of it dates better than the rest.

Askey himself and his straight man Richard Murdoch are much fresher and more appealing than Issy Bonn’s dialect humour, for instance. But the film is always a good-hearted, cheerful experience, especially for those old enough or nostalgic enough to know the title should be pronounced ‘Ay Thang Yew’.

The plot involves Arthur (Askey) and Stinker (Murdoch) masquerading as a cook (Askey in drag) and footman to try to extract money from an old ex-music-hall star, now Lady Randall (Lily Morris, playing herself), for their show. When she sets off, her eccentric ancient dad (Moore Marriott) brings trouble in the household, but it all ends up happily with Lady Randall singing again.

The screenplay is by Val Guest and Marriott Edgar, based on a story by Howard Irving Young. The film is produced by Edward Black at Gainsborough Pictures.

Frenchman Marcel Varnel made Oh, Mr Porter! (1937) with Will Hay, Graham Moffatt and Moore Marriott.

Graham Moffatt plays Albert, as he does in the Will Hay films. Moffatt’s last film is the 1963 80,000 Suspects, directed by Val Guest.

Also in the cast are Peter Gawthorne as Dr Pope, Kathleen Harrison as Cook, Felix Aylmer as Henry Potter, Eleanor Farrell as Herself, Charlie Forsythe as Himself, Addie Seamon as Herself, Issy Bonn as Himself, Cameron Hall as Lomas, Wally Patch as Bill Roberta Huby as Bobbie, Noel Dainton as Police Sergeant, and Phyllis Morris as Miss Pizer.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,416

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